Wine-scented Beauty

Chapter Twenty-Six: Talent Showdown

With the talent competition that had been arranged earlier about to begin, and Mrs. Hu having assigned them seats, Ji Meiqing couldn't wait any longer since last night.

She got up very early in the morning and dragged Lu Yu to go see her. Lu Yu was still sleepy when they went out together.

It's unclear what day it was, but as the two were strolling down the street, a carriage suddenly rushed towards them. Even though he reacted quickly and pulled her aside, she was still bumped.

Ji Meiqing felt a sharp pain in her leg and didn't know what was wrong. After she was put down, she saw Lu Yu looking at her leg with a serious expression, and then she looked over.

There were faint red marks on her legs, and they were getting more and more obvious. Lu Yu carried her straight to the clinic and asked a doctor to come and take a look at her.

Perhaps she hadn't checked the almanac before leaving home, for Ji Meiqing sat on the soft couch with her head turned to the side, afraid to look at her legs, lest she see the bloody mess.

The doctor frowned and rubbed something on her leg. Then a sharp pain shot through her, and Ji Meiqing was so frightened by the pain that she almost bit off her tongue.

"It might leave a scar, so please be careful, young lady, and don't let the wound get wet. Otherwise, it will worsen."

When Ji Meiqing heard him say that it would leave a scar, her mind went blank. She couldn't help but take a look. The wound wasn't deep, but its bright red color, mixed with some green herbs, looked rather eerie.

"Then... is there any way to prevent scarring?" she asked blankly.

The doctor shook his head, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in her heart.

Ji Meiqing sat there blankly, her mind seemingly emptied, unable to recall anything.

After everything was taken care of, Ji Meiqing limped forward, staring blankly ahead. Lu Yu, fearing she might do something rash, quickly followed beside her and bought her some things to appease her.

"It's okay, you won't be afraid to look." Lu Yu didn't know how to comfort her. He wasn't good at talking and didn't know how to coax a girl's heart.

However, in this critical moment, he was somewhat panicked.

The two traveled from the city center to Hu Mama's place, and apparently entered through the back door, unsure of what lay ahead. Ji Meiqing followed him inside, and they led her to a private room.

There was still some time before the show started, and in order not to affect the original plan, the entire building was covered with black cloth, and the prepared lanterns were lit one by one, making the building seem to have entered a magical world in an instant.

Ji Meiqing sat quietly in the private room, watching the reactions below. She had specially asked Hu Mama to spread the word about the talent show, saying that there was a limit to the number of participants. She also had a poster painted and put up on the wall. The person in the painting only showed a pair of eyes, while the rest of the face was covered by a veil.

Ji Meiqing specifically instructed that the eyes be painted to be more charming and alluring, and that they already captured seven or eight tenths of the spirit of the character.

Looking at it today, the turnaround is not bad.

At least everyone in the building has left and found a place to sit, and it doesn't look chaotic anymore.

A tangled fragrance, carrying the scent of sinners, drifted through the air. This was Lu Yu's idea; he had people soak the cloth of the sachets in wine before sewing them filled with spices and letting them hang in the air.

The veil was lifted, and a group of people emerged, each with alluring and seductive eyes. They danced together, exchanging flirtatious glances.

The floral decorations on their foreheads were also very eye-catching. The eighteen dancers had eighteen different outfits, and one of them arrived late.

When the curtain was lifted, revealing the person inside, the entire room fell silent.

Ji Meiqing was no exception. The drums and flutes had already started, and the girl swayed her waist and changed her hand movements constantly, which was pleasing to the eye.

If she were a man, she might have been tempted to buy him. But she's not a man now.

The performers on stage had finished, and all that remained was the auction. Before that, Madam Hu announced that the liquor in the building would be changed, but no one paid any attention. Everyone was too busy admiring the beauty of the newly crowned courtesan to notice what she was saying.

Mother Hu didn't care whether anyone listened or not; what mattered was how many people wanted the talent she had painstakingly cultivated, the kind who were willing to pay a high price.

The wine glasses were brought out, the wine bowls were laid out in front of her, and the rest of the bowls were lined up in a row.

"Everyone, tonight's guessing game isn't about the highest or lowest price. Qingyi wants to do something special: there's a bowl in front of her and another bowl opposite her. Whoever gets her drunk first gets her for half price."

Cutting the price in half was undoubtedly a bombshell. Everyone's face lit up with eager anticipation; they were itching to take her down.

After Madam Hu confirmed it, she called for the start. Two pimps kept pouring wine, one bowl for each of them, and soon a round began. Die'er seemed oblivious, her face not even turning red.

The second round began, and apart from a slight blush, her face remained unchanged, her eyes clear and rational.

After the fifth round ended, Die'er whispered a few words in Hu's mother's ear and left.

After she left, Mrs. Hu explained, "Our Die'er wants to rest for a bit, we'll continue later."

No one around them tried to force them; they were just a little less enthusiastic, so they asked the nanny to come up with a new game to play.

Throughout, Ji Meiqing observed the expressions of those around her, occasionally lowering her head in thought. Once she had figured things out, she would smile gently. Lu Yu looked at her, feeling somewhat guilty.

I don't know why, but I always want to look at her, yet I don't dare to be so blatant. It's as if if I look at her even once more, she'll notice, and I feel guilty.

The dance downstairs continued. After a while, the sound of drums rang out, and a girl in a red dress flew out of the building. One hand was wrapped with a red ribbon, and the other hand was waving a water embroidery. She circled in the air.

Ji Meiqing watched her dance in the air before gracefully landing. Hu's mother seemed unaware of this and hurriedly ran over, asking in a low voice, "Why did you come out?"

"Can't I come?" The girl's voice was clear and bright, like the hope that came after taking a bite of an apple. Mrs. Hu's face, however, was long and drawn. "Coming now is just to ruin my event, isn't it? What exactly do you want?"

"It's simple, just get the position of the most beautiful courtesan here."

"You!" Mrs. Hu glared at her. Now that things had come to this, she could only let her join in. She couldn't stop her anymore, but she was vaguely worried that everything would be ruined today.